Sen. Chuck Schumer offers muted praise for shutdown deal

New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer said Wednesday was not a day for celebration, even though the Senate reached a deal that will likely end the government shutdown and raise the country’s debt limit after weeks of gridlock.

“For all this drama, all this sturm und drang, we’re ending up just where we started,” Mr. Schumer told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

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Mr. Schumer said Democrats couldn’t back down in negotiations over the health care law, because it would pave the way for hard-right lawmakers who say “unless we get our way, we’re going to do huge harm to the nation.”

“Those days are over,” he said. “Well, let’s hope.”

Mr. Schumer reserved special praise for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, for his willingness to compromise and reach a deal despite facing a GOP primary challenger next year.

“He, unlike Speaker [John] Boehner, stepped up to the plate,” he said.